ORLANDO, Oct. 22, 2018 /Christian
Newswire/ -- A majority of Americans believe abortion is a sin,
according to findings released today from the 2018 State of Theology
survey: 52 percent of Americans agreed that abortion is a sin, compared
to 38 percent who disagreed. Opposition to abortion has increased
slightly since the 2016 State of Theology survey, when 49 percent said
abortion is a sin.

The 2018 State of Theology survey was conducted for
Ligonier Ministries by LifeWay Research, which interviewed a
demographically balanced online panel of 3,000 American adults.

It is clear that some in the media continue to exaggerate
Americans' support for social liberalism, for a large number of
Americans continue to agree with biblical ethics.

The new survey also shows a majority of American adults
agreeing that sex outside of traditional marriage is a sin: 51 percent
agreed, compared to 41 percent who disagreed.

A majority (51 percent) of Americans disagreed that
gender identity is a matter of choice; only 38 percent agreed that it is
a matter of choice. However, there appears to be more confusion
surrounding this issue because 77 percent of Americans also agreed that
God created mankind male and female (only 13 percent disagreed).

More Americans agreed that the Bible's condemnation of
same-sex relationships is outdated than disagreed: 44 percent said that
it is outdated, compared to 41 percent who said that it is not. However,
neither point of view obtained a majority in the survey. The wealthiest
Americans are most likely to support same-sex relationships (49 percent
of Americans with a household income of $100,000 or more).

"These survey results may surprise some people, but
pro-life beliefs have definitely been gaining ground in recent years.
Pastors and local churches have played a big part in this by teaching
about the sanctity of human life. Ultrasound images plainly show the
humanity of the child in the womb, and they are provoking the
consciences of Americans. Christians are playing a lead role in
providing counsel and practical care for those in need."

"For almost five decades now, abortion has been a central
issue in the life of America. With a majority agreeing that abortion is
a sin, we have a clear indication that many Americans want

the state to restore protection to the unborn child.
There would be considerable support for a Supreme Court decision
reversing Roe v. Wade. There is clear support for protecting
the life of the unborn, which explains overwhelming opposition to
abortion on demand."

"Regular churchgoers are even more emphatically opposed
to abortion, with 79 percent of them saying that abortion is a sin.
Likewise, 76 percent of regular churchgoers say that sexual
relationships outside of traditional marriage are sinful. This points to
the important worldview impact of going to a faithful church."

"There is increasing confusion in society today regarding
gender, with many believing that gender is a social construct or that
people can change their gender. The opening pages of the Bible declare
that God created human beings as male and female. There is no gender
confusion in Scripture. Our biological gender is woven into our identity
and is fundamental to who we are as created by God."

Ligonier Ministries' 2018 State of Theology survey was
conducted by LifeWay Research, which interviewed a representative sample
of 3,000 Americans. The full survey results are available online at
TheStateOfTheology.com.

About Ligonier Ministries

Ligonier Ministries
exists to proclaim, teach, and defend the holiness of God in all its
fullness to as many people as possible. To that end, Ligonier's outreach
today is manifold and worldwide. Founded by Dr. R.C. Sproul in 1971,
teaching fellows now continue and help lead Ligonier's work of
discipleship that Dr. Sproul began more than forty years ago. These
teaching fellows are Drs. Sinclair B. Ferguson, W. Robert Godfrey,
Steven J. Lawson, R. Albert Mohler Jr., Stephen J. Nichols, Burk
Parsons, and Derek W.H. Thomas. Ligonier publishes
Renewing Your Mind
broadcasts, the
Reformation Study Bible,
Tabletalk magazine,
books through the
Reformation Trust Publishing division, and hundreds of teaching
series. The ministry also offers an undergraduate degree program through
Reformation Bible
College. In addition, Ligonier hosts national and regional
conferences, provides an
online learning community through
Ligonier Connect,
answers biblical and theological questions through
Ask Ligonier, streams
twenty-four-hour Christian Internet radio through
RefNet, pursues numerous
translation
efforts in other countries, and makes available thousands of unique
educational resources online at
Ligonier.org.

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